Christmas Lights Safety Advice

Yep, it’s that time of year again already…that is, time to pull out the Christmas lights!

Christmas lights are beautiful and add to the magic of the season, but all that electricity can cause problems if not used properly. Bill Brandsma Real Estate wishes you a safe and wonderful holiday season and reminds everyone of the top safety tips and special precautions to make sure they’re safe as you go about decorating your home with lights:

• Before you string up a single strand of lights, carefully check them for cracked cords, frayed ends or loose connections. Frayed cords can lead to a short.
• Replace burned out bulbs promptly with bulbs of the same wattage.
• Modern lights have fused plugs, preventing sparks in case of a short circuit. Ditch old strands of lights that don’t have fuses and get a set of newer, safer lights.
• Use extension cords properly. Keep an eye on them as they can occasionally overheat. Just touch-test the cord. If it’s hot, unplug it.
• Keep your tree well-watered. The combination of shorts in electrical lights and a tinder-dry tree can be dangerous.
• When you leave the house or go to bed at night turn off your Christmas lights.

Have a safe & joyful Christmas season!